Site Description

Hercules, Inc. is located at 50 South Minisink Avenue in Parlin, New
Jersey. The plant started operations in the early 1900's at a 670-acre
site adjacent to the Sayreville watershed. Its main product through the
years has been nitrocellulose, which was used for making explosives. In
the 1940's, Hercules manufactured the pesticide DDT, which resulted in
the contamination of the soils in the manufacturing area and the sediments
in a brook that runs through the site. Four unlined landfills were operated
on-site and received various types of waste materials. These landfills
have a combined area of about 10 acres.

Potential Threats and Contaminants

Soil and groundwater has been contaminated as a result of manufacturing
activities, operation of the unlined landfills, and spills. Groundwater
is contaminated with tertiary-butyl alcohol and volatile organic compounds,
including carbon tetrachloride and chloroform. The former DDT manufacturing
operation resulted in DDT-contamination of soil and sediments in the brook.

Cleanup Approach and Progress

An investigation was conducted to delineate the extent of DDT-contaminated
soil and sediments. Hercules installed an underground wall around the
landfills to prevent contamination from migrating. The company also installed
pumps between the underground wall and landfills to further contain the
contaminated groundwater. The pumped groundwater is treated in the on-site
wastewater treatment system and then discharged to the public sewer authority.

Another groundwater pumping system was installed to contain the tertiary-butyl
alcohol contamination plume from migrating further. Studies have shown
that this alcohol degrades naturally by adding oxygen-releasing chemicals
and a particular kind of bacteria into the contaminated groundwater zone.
A determination is being made concerning whether this type of approach
would be adequate to address this groundwater problem. A third groundwater pumping system was installed to control a carbon tetrachloride
contamination plume. The contaminants are separated from the groundwater,
collected, and then the water is pumped back into the ground.

Hercules will complete the characterization of the contamination and
assess whether the site's current approach to removing the tertiary-butyl
alcohol constituents is likely to work. Hercules must also complete the
excavation of the contaminated sediment from the brook and put it into
one of the on-site landfills. The landfills will then be closed by installing
a plastic cover and creating an ongoing groundwater monitoring program.

The three groundwater pumping systems will operate indefinitely to remove
contaminated groundwater and to prevent it from migrating further. The
groundwater monitoring program will continue indefinitely to confirm that
there is no migration of contaminated groundwater from the facility.

The land use and groundwater use at the site and the surrounding area
will be restricted where contamination exceeds residential standards.

Site Repository

Copies of supporting technical documents and correspondence cited in
the site fact sheet are available for public review at the following location: